The chariot cut through open sky three days after the Night Bloom, and Azrail sat in his usual seat with his back against the cushion, one hand occupied by Valencia's fingers, the other surviving Xuanyin's quiet grip, and his mind entirely elsewhere. The chariot's hum was steady now, a background noise they'd all adjusted to after weeks of travel, but Azrail barely registered it. His focus was inward, piecing together fragments that could lead them to the next step.
